Alaskan .44mag review

This is a discussion on Alaskan .44mag review within the Ruger Double Action forums, part of the Pistol & Revolver Forum category; A short review of the Ruger Alaskan .44 Mag.
Iíve ran about 300 rounds through it and I can say it is a hoot to ...

A short review of the Ruger Alaskan .44 Mag.
Iíve ran about 300 rounds through it and I can say it is a hoot to shoot! Iíve shot a variety of loads through it: 240gr Hornady SWC HP .430 with 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10grs of Unique also 280gr WFN GC with 10grs Unique and 20.5 and 21.5grs W296. The best load was with the Hornady bullet and 8.5grs Unique. 2Ē groups from 25yrds from my bench. Shooting from 50ft sitting with my hands rested on my knees I could shoot 2.5Ē groups with all the loads. From 21ft with the 8.5gr load I can knock six spent shotgun shells off my backstop real fast.
I also ran some of my favorite .44 Special loads through it, the same Hornady bullet with 7grs Unique, very accurate. I had my wife shoot the Special loads through it and it was very manageable for her.
Recoil with the heavy load is there but certainly not worse than with my 4 5/8Ē Super Blackhawk.
The only modification I made was to put some orange jig paint on the front sight. This helped a lot.
Only one minor complaint, the pin that holds the rear sight in moves after a few heavy rounds. I can push it back in place with my fingernail. It backs out maybe a 1/8th inch. I am not sure if I backed it out and put a little LocTite on it that will help? Anyone have a suggestion on that?
Here are a few pics. Hope you enjoy. God Bless.

Anvil,
Thanks for the positive review. I have been looking at a snub 44 mag, and your info helps.
One question--- What is all that white stuff around the revolvers and pouch? Did you put to much 'TIDE' in the washing machine before you took the photos??? (G)

AL in Twister-prone Southern Indiana where it was 75 when they hit yesterday and it is 35 today. yuck !

Thanks for the review. I should probably have my head examined for wanting an Alasken in 44 mag, but the option of shooting 44 Special as your wife did and still being manageable is encouraging. Also, that's great accuracy in a snubbie. Nice shooting! We do get bears in our yard in the spring and have been thinking of using a 44 mag instead of our 357 as backup if pepper spray doesn't work.

Thanks for the tip Stuart, I'll give that a try. I forgot to mention what a great single action trigger it has. I don't have a scale but it feels just as nice as my SBH that had a trigger job.
North country gal, the recoil with the .44 Spcl is very mild, for comparison my wife did not like the recoil on a 9mm auto at all but she didn't mind this. The grips make all the difference.

My GP100 had the same problem with the pin on the rear sight. The Forum advice and that from Ruger CS was to pull it about out, put a slight bend in it and push it back into place. I was skeptical but CS offered to send me a new pin, which they did. I tried their solution though and it seems to have worked. The pin has stayed in place so far but I have a replacement on hand if I have the problem again.

I also get a hoot out of shooting the 44 Alaskan. You got the right idea, some lock tight will do the trick. Had the same problem with one of my guns and that solved it. Paint on the front sight really makes it show up. Nice firearm. I may have a line on a second one and will be to weak to resist. Enjoy that big boomer.

Very nice if very limited practicality revolver but fun to own and shoot. I you have it in 454 and miss your target and the target is within 5 feet you will probably burn the target to death with muzzle flash. I once owned a american derringer in44 mag and the muzzle flash was something with 44 special. With 44 mag it was amazing.

Thanks for the good report.
I now know of a couple of things to look out for.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nutty Ned

I'd like to shoot one some day.

I'd, also, like to hear a report of 300 gr cast core and 310 gr garret ammo through an Alaskan.

Me, too.
I was looking at the Garrett site and wondered what would work best out of the shorter bbl. I guess 'Minute Of Beast' is accurate enough!

My 'trade' is still in the works. Buddy at work is getting OT to buy the ALASKAN for me to trade for my refinished 7.5" that I've shown on here before.
I plan to polish the ALASKAN to a mirror finish to match my GKGP-161.

I just got my new HOGUE Coco Bolo checkered grip in the mail. NICE!
The Mernickle holster has been ordered.
Here's a pic of the holster: